Category Archives: The Liminal Times

Dire And Back

In the annals of science fiction, resurrecting extinct creatures usually ends with a T. rex eating the tourists. But real science just pulled off a different kind of resurrection—with fur, fangs, and a name straight out of Westeros. Here are five genetically engineered FactSlaps about the return of the dire wolf:

1. Dire Wolves Are (Sort of) Back
Biotech firm Colossal Biosciences has created wolf pups that resemble the long-extinct dire wolf, using DNA pulled from fossils and tweaked with modern gene editing. It’s not cloning—it’s resurrection by redesign.

2. Born of Dogs, Named Like Legends
The three engineered pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—were birthed by domestic dog surrogates. Yes, Khaleesi. Because if you’re bringing back ancient, oversized predators, why not make it official Game of Thrones canon?

3. They’re Not Wolves—And Never Were
Despite the name, dire wolves weren’t just beefier gray wolves. DNA shows they split from a common ancestor millions of years ago, evolving into a separate genus (Aenocyon), making them more cousin than clone.

4. These Pups Are CRISPR Creations
To mimic dire wolf traits, scientists edited 20 genes in gray wolf embryos, targeting body size, skull structure, and musculature. It’s not de-extinction. It’s de-extinctish.

5. From Fantasy to Field Test
Fans of Game of Thrones remember dire wolves as loyal beasts of war. But these real-life versions raise serious questions: Should we be reviving apex predators? Are we restoring ecosystems—or rewriting evolution?

Veil

Veil

Veil of breath,
the sky exhales a silent hymn—
a hymn not sung,
but remembered.

Something ancient
folds itself
over the black between stars,
between seconds of spacetime.

This is the language
before language,
the ripple before the wave,
the dream
before the sleeper knows
they’re dreaming.

Micro-Meditations: The 60-Second Sanity Hack


If meditation feels like something reserved for Himalayan monks or tech bros with Pelotons, it’s time to meet its scrappy, time-starved cousin: the micro-meditation.

A micro-meditation is exactly what it sounds like—a short, focused burst of mindfulness that can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

No mantras. No incense. No need for a dedicated “practice.” Just a reset button for your nervous system.

Why it works:

Your brain doesn’t need a yoga retreat to calm down. Neuroscientists have found that even brief mindfulness exercises can downshift the sympathetic nervous system—the fight-or-flight response—and activate the parasympathetic system, the one in charge of rest and repair.

In one 2019 study published in Behavioral Brain Research, participants who engaged in just 13 minutes of meditation a day for one week showed improved mood, decreased anxiety, and enhanced attention.

But here’s the kicker: even sessions under 2 minutes can regulate breathing, lower cortisol, and bring you back to center.

Try this:

• The 4-4-4 Breath: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4. Do it 3 times. That’s 36 seconds to chemically calm your body.

• Name 3 Things: Stuck in traffic? Silently name three things you can see, hear, and feel. Sensory grounding in under a minute.

• Just One Bite: Eat one raisin. Slowly. Notice the texture, the taste, the smell. You just did mindful eating.

• Screen Detox: Before you unlock your phone, take one deep breath and ask: “Why am I picking this up?” That pause might save you 45 minutes of doomscrolling.

Micro-meditations aren’t a substitute for deeper mental health work, but they’re a stealth tool—like hiding broccoli in your mac and cheese. Small. Effective. Undeniably good for you.

So next time life comes swinging, don’t scream into the void. Sip some air. Close your eyes. Just for a moment.

Welcome to the quietest rebellion of your day.